<b>Note, Monday, 12/27</b>: Christmas and the blizzard afterward kept most trips docked. That's winter! And the holidays. Therefore only a few updates, not a full-scale report, were posted today. More should be added Thursday.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

The vessel sailed for blackfish Friday, staying docked Saturday, because of Christmas, and Sunday and Monday, because of the blizzard, Capt. Tom said. On Friday a decent catch of blackfish was swung aboard, and the angling was holding up well. Action wasn’t as busy as on trips earlier this season, but was all right, was good, wasn’t bad. Some anglers belted five or six keepers, and Tom thought only one landed no keepers. Sizeable ones, including blackfish 6 and 8 pounds, came up once again. Catching the fish was largely a matter of getting the weather to sail. Trips this week are expected to stay tied to the cleats through at least Tuesday, because of the continuing blizzard Monday morning and winds forecasted for Tuesday. Wednesday might be the next time the daily trips resume. The vessel is slated to fish through Sunday, including on New Year’s Eve day and New Year’s day, before going on a winter break.<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> A few anglers showed up for Wednesday’s blackfish trip, but when the green crab baits were pulled in that morning, they were dead, so no trip sailed, Tom said. But the bait supplier promised fresh green crabs for today’s trip, and the trip is expected to sail. All boats hang the crabs in the waters to keep them alive this time of year, but the heavy snow and freshwater runoff killed them. The parking lot is plowed from the blizzard, and the weather looks fair. Tom will give an update on today’s trip that will be posted here. <b>***Another Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> Fishing scored a little pick of blackfish, a few ling and one cod so far on today’s trip, Tom said at 12 noon today during a phone call on the outing. The trip fished first at one spot, and a couple of fish came up. The boat was moved to another spot, and the bit of a pick began, and the vessel was being moved to another place while he gave this report. The trip fished in 110 feet, deeper waters than before, and Tom was sure the ocean became colder because of the snowstorm. The fishing wasn’t as good as he’d like, and was slower than previously, and he would see how the angling fared at the next location. Trips are expected to keep sailing during the next days through Sunday, before going on a break for winter.

<b>Highlands</b>

No trips sailed during the Christmas weekend and the blizzard that followed, said Capt. Brian from <b>Jersey Devil Charters</b>. But trips on the boat will keep sailing for either blackfish or, in deeper waters, cod, pollock, ling and sea bass, as long as the fish keep biting.

<b>Neptune</b>

The individual-reservation blackfishing trip limited out by 12 noon Christmas Eve with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said in an e-mail. He added another one of the trips for Wednesday, but all spaces but one already filled. Space remains on more of the trips Friday and Saturday or New Year’s Eve day and New Year’s day. Call to reserve any of the trips. All other trips are full through then. <b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30***</b>: The trip Wednesday, the first that was possible to sail since the blizzard, attempted to run for blackfish, but the railroad bridge was kept from lifting, so the trip had to be cancelled, Mary Ann, Ralph’s wife, said. Another trip is supposed to sail for the tog today, and Ralph will likely give an update on the results that will be posted here afterward. In a previous e-mail he said Friday’s trip for the slipperies is sold out, but space is available on more of the outings on New Year’s Day and Sunday. <b>***Another Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> The trip today “wrecked” blackfish, “absolutely excellent” fishing, Ralph said. An 11.4-pounder was caught and released, and a 10.2-pounder was kept, and a bunch of 8- and 9-pounders were walloped. One of the anglers landed 20 of the fish, keeping no more than his limit. The trip was one of the best of the year. Openings remain on Sunday’s trip, but Saturday’s trip is full.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> The <b>Big Mohawk</b> was docked since Christmas Eve, because of the holiday then the blizzard, but the vessel will resume blackfishing today, Capt. Chris said. He’ll try to give an update on the results that will be posted here afterward if he does. The fishing was good previously, and he’ll see whether the snow affected the fish. The Big Mohawk if blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and Chris will make a decision today about whether a trip will sail on New Year’s day. <b>***Another Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> Anglers on the trip today caught blackfish, Chris said. “Not great, but caught some,” he said, and some of the anglers limited out. Catches were better than he thought they’d be. The fish weighed up to 8 pounds, none huge. But the fishing was good. “You knew you were fishing,” he said. The daily trip will sail New Year’s day, he decided. Anglers want to go.

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> All the party boats sailed today for the first time since Christmas Eve, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. They fished for blackfish and mackerel, and Bob thinks they should catch them again today, but nobody will know until they try. Good catches were scored through Christmas Eve. Then Christmas and the blizzard the next days cancelled trips. Jimmy Rice’s 10-pound 2-ounce blackfish he party-boated that day was the last fish weighed in at the shop. Droves of anglers showed up at the shop today, apparently antsy from sitting around because of the storm. Limited parking space because of snow was the only challenge.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> The <b>Big Kid</b> was shoveled out from the snowstorm Wednesday, and trips will now resume, Capt. Ken said. About 35 inches fell. Charters are fishing for blackfish closer to shore and cod and ling farther from the coast, and dates are available. A charter was interested in fishing for ling this weekend, and the fish might be in the deep by this time of the season. 

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> hoped to fish through the next few days, after being docked because of the weather, he said. He plans to fish for blackfish first, like he’s been doing. If blackfish are sluggish because the snow dropped ocean temps, trips will fish for ling and cod. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing, and open trips are full through the weekend. The next open trips will probably sail next week, and anglers can call Derek to be kept informed about the next open dates.

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> Eight anglers on a 35-foot Maine coaster left the docks at 6 a.m. today to fish the ocean, probably for blackfish, said Carl LaManna, owner of <b>Canyon River Club Marina</b>. So anglers started to fish again after the storm, and a good 30 inches fell, and some drifts reached 8 feet. That was a tough clean up. Canyon River Club Marina, located on Manasquan River, is open year long, and some boaters already reserved slips for winter wreck fishing. Featuring all the amenities, the marina boasts a convenient location, with no bridges before the inlet.

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> Trips stayed in port since the snow, said Capt. Matt from the <b>Norma K</b> party boat fleet, but trips are blackfishing daily through Friday. Starting Saturday, January 1, when the blackfish bag limit drops to four from the current limit of six, trips will sail for ling and blackfish 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and during Magic Hours 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> The party boat <b>Dauntless</b> finally fished Wednesday after the blizzard Sunday to Monday, and was the only boat to sail, Capt. Butch said. No vessels probably sailed since the storm, and everyone was busy digging out. On the way out to the bottom-fishing grounds, chunks of ice were seen floating on the ocean that came from Manasquan River, and waters probably chilled from the snow. But ling and cod, not a great catch, but not bad, were bagged. Most anglers boxed five to twelve fish apiece, and some grabbed more, and Butch was surprised how many fish bit after the storm. Ling made up most of the catch, and probably 15 to 18 cod, 5- to 8-pounders, were clocked. The trip stayed shallow, fishing in 120 to 140 feet, because currents ran too strong to fish deeper. The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, including on New Year’s day. The vessel is one of the few, if not the only,  in the state that fishes daily all winter.

<b>Bricktown</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> The shop was shoveled out from the blizzard on Wednesday, said Capt. Rich from <b>Jersey Hooker Outfitters Bait & Tackle</b>. The blizzard Sunday to Monday was unbelievable, dumping 34 inches on Bricktown, a town and state record. The snow left on the side roads was unreal. Nothing was heard about fishing, and the snow kept anglers from going. But they should return to fishing now, and Rich expects to sail with his <b>Jersey Hooker Charters</b>, running from Point Pleasant Beach’s Canyon River Club Marina, on Friday or the weekend. Charters on the boat have been fishing for tog on the ocean. A trip on the vessel Saturday rounded up a pick of the blackfish to 7 pounds, “nothing really crazy,” Rich said. The fish were found in 70 to 80 feet, deeper than before. The store is open daily. Starting January 14 the shop will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6 a.m. to 12 noon Sundays during the peak of winter.

<b>Toms River</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> A few customers jumped on party boats to fish for sea bass, cod and ling, and the bottom-fishing trips began to fish farther offshore, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. A couple of customers picked up salted clams to fish the surf on Christmas Eve, but whether they caught anything was unknown, and surf fishing was really finished for the season. White perch fishing on the brackish Toms River was probably the best bet for back-water fishing. The river wasn’t frozen, because of winds, and worms or grass shrimp are baits to dunk. Live grass shrimp will be unavailable this time of year, so frozen shrimp will have to be fished. The shop will be open through today. Afterward the doors will only be open periodically, while the crew happens to be there, during the height of winter. If the trucks are there, the doors are open. Regular hours usually kick back off at the beginning of March.

<b>Forked River</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> One customer was going to steam 8 miles offshore for wreck fishing today, but nothing was heard back from him yet, said Grizz from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. The area was snowed in, but the shop is open.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> A few customers took trips to Cape May to sail for sea bass offshore on party boats in the past week, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Collins Cove on the Mullica River, the popular spot for ice fishing for white perch, was yet to freeze, and snow prevented access to the cove anyway. Now was a good time to bring rod and reel repairs to the shop to be ready for spring. Get the work done before the rush creates a back up. Business was booming at  <a href="http://www.pennparts.com" target="_blank">PennParts.com</a>, the shop’s online store featuring every Penn part manufactured, many that are no longer manufactured and other cool stuff like free online schematics. Check it out.

<b>Longport</b>

The boat will be shoveled out from the blizzard today, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b>. He plans to keep blackfishing on open-boat trips and charters, but he’ll try to fish on open trips for sea bass before the season for the lumpheads closes Saturday. Seventeen inches of snow fell. <b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> Clearing snow and ice from the boat took two days, Mike said. Trips on the vessel will resume today and sail probably through Monday. Fishing will be like starting all over, seeing whether the blizzard affected the bite. Water temperatures and clarity are unknown. Today’s trip will try for blackfish, but if waters became too cold for them to snap, the trip will shoot offshore for sea bass, cod, pollock or ling. Mike’s been wanting to hit the offshore waters anyway, and customers have been asking about cod. Open-boat outings are sold out today, Friday and Sunday. Space is available Saturday, New Year’s day, and Mike will try to put a trip together Monday, and space is available then. He expects to give an update about the results of today’s trip that will be posted here if he does. <b>***Another Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> The ocean was 37 degrees close to shore on today’s trip, and fishing there was shut down, Mike said. “The end came early,” he said, two weeks before usual. “No dogfish, no bergals, no skates, and no tog,” he said. He’s pulling the plug on inshore fishing for tog, and Friday’s trip will motor farther offshore for warmer waters at 28-Mile Wreck, and see what’s biting.

<b>Ocean City</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 12/30:***</b> After 18 inches of snow fell during the blizzard and the clean up afterward, some anglers said they were heading out to catch sea bass offshore Wednesday and today, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. They wanted to fish for them before sea bass season closes Saturday, but no results were heard yet. The ocean close to shore was 36 degrees, putting an end to angler participation there and the back waters. The shop in winter will be open Fridays through Sundays until reopening seven days a week on March 1. Tackle and everything is stocked to the hilt for all your angler needs. The current hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 9 a.m. until probably 3 p.m. Sundays. 

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Winter trips to the Florida Keys are being booked with Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>, he said. Anglers on the annual weekend getaways can arrive Friday, fish all day Saturday and part of Sunday, and return Sunday. He talked with his contacts there, and sailfishing was going well just outside the reefs, and lots of Spanish and cero mackerel and some king mackerel held around the reefs. Lots of snappers chewed at the patch reefs, and blackfin tuna and mahi mahi roamed the Hump farther from shore. Redfish, speckled sea trout and ladyfish swam toward Flamingo on the mainland. A cold front moved in on Sunday, pulling temps down to the 60s during the day in the Keys. But warmth was supposed to return Tuesday and Wednesday, and the weather’s been in the mid to low 70s. On Saturday, before the cold front, the weather was beautiful. See <a href="http://www.gibsonstackle.com/page6.html" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Traveling Charters Web page</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Fishing was wrapped up for the season for Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, he said. He thanks everyone who sailed with him, looking forward to seeing everyone aboard next year. Trips next year will begin with striper fishing, and drum fishing will follow. This past year George was one of the first to sail for stripers, taking advantage of the fish that shoot up Delaware Bay very early in the season, headed to the Delaware River to spawn. His trips clammed the fish in late March or the first days of April, and he plans to do that again.  Many anglers in recent years missed that first shot of the bass, and the linesiders seemed to arrive early. But George’s trips knocked the heck out of the catches, and contact him if interested in the fishing. Currently only a couple of the party boats seemed still to sail from Cape May, running for tog or sea bass. Most, if not all, other fishing businesses seemed shut down for the season from the port. 

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